ST. LOUIS -- Anthony Hitchens was the Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker by default on Sunday.

Sean Lee was home watching because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in May. Justin Durant was on the sideline with a groin injury. So was Rolando McClain.

The Cowboys had nowhere else to go against the St. Louis Rams other than Hitchens, their fourth-round pick.

And he came up with a game-changing play.

After converting on a fourth-and-inches in the first half, the Rams pressed their luck on their first drive of the second half at the Dallas 15.

This is where Hitchens was a quick study.

“I was about 85, 90 percent -- I knew it was coming, so good thing they did run it and not pull it out,” Hitchens said. “It was in their scheme. They ran it the first time and when I saw that formation I was going to shoot the gap.”

Hitchens was able to get into the backfield and stop Zac Stacy for a 1-yard loss. The Rams passed on a chance to take a 24-17 lead and the Cowboys answered with a field goal of their own after Hitchens’ stop.

“I seen it the first time but I just didn’t want to shoot my gun,” Hitchens said. “I went over the top then. Sometimes it just takes a second time to see it.”

Hitchens finished with a game-high 13 tackles in his second career start but first at middle linebacker.

“Hitch, I think, got more comfortable as the game went on and was around the ball more, hits on the ball, plays on the ball,” coach Jason Garrett said. “That was obviously a big play for our team to get that stop there.”